We mourn the death of the child we had assumed I had given birth to, yet dearly love the baby we have. We want our child, but don't want her to have Down Syndrome...'
Since their initial shock at their daughter's disability, Karina's parents have experienced the challenges and joys of raising a child with special needs. Gun Dolva and Rodney Potter have taken advantage of available services and programmes, and their own imaginations, to devise stimulating activities to assist her to develop to her full potential. They aim to provide her with every opportunity to fully participate in the community.
This is the account of Karina's first six years, as told to Cheryl Rogers. Karina Has Down Syndrome is a valuable resource for the families of Down Syndrome children, teachers and disability service workers.

About the Author

Cheryl Rogers graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Since training as a journalist with Western Australian Newspapers Ltd, she has worked on a number of weekly magazines, and currently lives in the Swan Valley, Western Australia.
Gun Dolva met Cheryl while studying Zoology at the University of Western Australia. She now works as a sessional academic/tutor at Edith Cowan University. Gun is Karina's mother, and lives with her family in Darlington, Western Australia.

Reviews
This is the story of how two parents coped with the birth of their daughter who was born with Down's Syndrome. It recounts very objectively their feelings, fears and hopes as they tried to come to terms with their situation. This is a very inspiring story, told in a mixture of diary extracts and personal feelings. It also contains a very useful glossary and a list of resource addresses and reading materials. -- Rostrum
The reviewer gave this book to the mother of a one year old girl with Downs Syndrome for a parent's perspective. She described the book as the best she had read and found it amusing and relatively light-hearted, while true to life. She was impressed at how the book examined their experiences without being melodramatic or depressing and was heartened by the fact that Karina's parents did not set themselves up as experts, just parents recounting their story. Overall she found it positive and thoroughly enjoyable, and on a practical note, took on board some of the exercises done with Karina. A recommended good read. -- Irish Social Worker
This book is one family's account of the early years with a child who has special needs. It is intended as a resource book for the families of children with Down Syndrome, teachers and disability service workers. -- Frontline of Learning Disability
Reading this book provides an excellent insight into some of the difficulties faced in balancing the needs of a young child with down's syndrome with that of other members of the family. It also discusses some solutions which this family found helpful. It is not a textbook to be used by therapists to understand the full implications of a diagnosis of down's syndrome but, the insight gained might assist in planning interventions appropriate to an individual family. The book is an honest account of disappointments and difficulties as well as pleasures, although the overall tone is extremely positive. The diary excerpts demonstrate the practical ways Karina's parents use to help her and the underpinning theory. I found this book a pleasure to read. It's lack of jargon and easy to read format was a refreshing change for a book that was of professional interest. -- OTPLD Newsletter
This is a delightful little book written by a journalist and Karina's mother, who is herself a university lecturer. Karina's mother vividly, but not over-emotionally, records the family's first six years of Karina's life. In her mother's words: "We mourn the death of the child that we had assumed i had given birth to, yet dearly love the baby we have. We want our child, but don't want her to have Down Syndrome". I very much enjoyed reading this book, and recommend it as an additional resource regarding the early management of a child with Down Syndrome -- NAPOT



Book Information
ISBN 9781853028205
Author Cheryl Rogers
Format Paperback
Page Count 112
Imprint Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Weight(grams) 166g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 140mm * 6mm